National Security

NATIONAL SECURITY

is the security of the nation state, including its citizens,

economy and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of the
government. Originally conceived as protection against
military attack, national security is now widely understood to
include non military dimensions, including the security from
terrorism, crime, economic security, energy security,
environmental security, food security, cyber security, illegal
drugs, etc.
 CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY

 The first school views national security as the protection of the

nation’s people and territories from physical assault. In this sense,
national security is equated with national defense, and the threats to
a nation’s security are perceived to emanate from outside the
country.
 The second school, however, maintains that national security has a
broader meaning. In addition to national defense, it includes the
protection of vital economic and political interests, the loss of which
could threaten fundamental values and the vitality of the state itself.
In this sense, national security is the concern not only of the military,
but also of the other departments and agencies as well, and it may be
threatened both from within and externally.
 We subscribe to the latter view. For this season, we look
at national security as a state or condition wherein the
people’s way of life and institutions, their welfare and
well-being are protected and enhanced.
 We can also say that national security fundamentally
involves the maintenance and protection of a nation’s
sovereignty, the crucial attribute of which is the right for
self-determination – the freedom of a nation to pursue its
political, economic and social goals.
 Concerns of National Security.
 

 Territorial Integrity – the territory of the country is intact and under the
effective control of the government
 Ecological Balance – the environment is able to support sustainable
development strategies for the benefit of the nation and the people who
depend on it for their existence.
 Socio-Political Stability – there is peace and harmony among the
divergent groups of people in the country, and mutual cooperation and
support exists between the Government and the people as a whole.
 Economic Solidarity – the economy is strong, capable of supporting
national endeavors, and derives its strength from the people who have an
organic stake in it through participation or ownership.
 Concerns of National Security
 
 Cultural Cohesiveness – the people share the values and beliefs handed
down by their forebears and posses a strong sense of attachment to the
national community despite their religious, ethnic and linguistic
differences.
 Moral-Spiritual Consensus – there is moral and spiritual consensus
among the people on the wisdom and righteousness of the national
vision, and they are inspired by their patriotism and national pride to
participate vigorously in the pursuit of the country’s goals and
objectives.
 External Peace – the country and the people enjoys cordial relations
with their neighbors, and they are free from any control, interference or
threat of aggression from any of them.
 ASPECTS OF NATIONAL SECURITY
 Internal aspect, national security relates to the defense of the nation’s
government against hostile local elements seeking its replacement with
their own government. In this sense, national security refers to
measures aimed at countering domestic or internal challenges to the
existing political and socio-economic order
 External aspect, national security is concerned with safeguarding the
state against outside or foreign forces, pressures or influence designed
to conquer it or undermine its sovereignty, for the purpose of placing it
under the domination or control of some foreign state or states. In this
sense, national security embraces the defense arrangements directed
at insuring the safety of the state against foreign intervention or
domination.
 TYPES OF THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Internal Threat-posed primarily by the different groups who oppose our present
system/the main internal threat that has affected the country for decades is the armed
conflict. It arises from various groups like the Islamic Terrorist groups-the Communist
Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CCP-NPA), the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng
Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletariat Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade
(RPMP/RPA/ABB). The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), headed by Nur Misuari,
engaged the government in a combat battle in Zamboanga City last 2013. The more
militant Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), after being forced to abandon its stronghold in
Basilian. Has regrouped in most part of Mindanao and conducted kidnap for ransom
activities.The Jemaah Islamiya (JI), an Al Qeada affiliated in Indonesia executed series
of bombing. The NPA, the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines
(CPP)remains to be a serious threat to internal security.
The LOCAL COMMUNIST GROUPS (LCM) remains the main threat to our national
security because it has the intention to seize political power through the violent
overthrow of the government and the capability to pursue it to a certain degree.
The party utilizes three main weapons in its revolutionary
struggle, namely: the Party (CPP), the Army (NPA) and the
United Democratic Front (NDF) Reaffirmist Group
 The CPP – the Communist Party of the Philippines is the brain of the people’s
revolution. It provides the political leadership to the movement and determines
the general line and direction of the revolution. It controls the activities of the
army and the united front.
 The NPA – the New Peoples Army; it is the military arm of the Party tasked with
the advancement of the protracted people’s war through the principal use of the
armed struggle. 
 The NDF – National Democratic Front is the shield of the revolution. It provides
an umbrella organization for the CPP/NPA and other militant and “progressive”
organization including CPP and CPP-infiltrated groups. It is composed of various
territorial and sectoral non-governmental organizations as well as functional
organizations tasked with advancing the legal program of the communist
movement hitherto taking care of propaganda and black propaganda activities.
The Party also maintains an International Department, which takes care of generating support from other countries
or from other communist movement from abroad (e.g., from the communist party in Australia, the Netherlands,
and from the other socialist countries in Eastern Europe).
 

Rejectionist Groups
 PMP (Partido ng Manggagawang Pilipino) -Lagman Group
Ideology: Adheres to the teachings of Leaning. It advocates insurrectionary struggle
that calls for a combination of political and military efforts to create an insurrectionary or
revolutionary situation.

 SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES SECESSIONIST GROUPS (SPSGs)

The threat emanating from the southern Philippines (Mindanao) dates back to the
Spanish era. But the main issue then is the clash of interest between the Christians and the
Muslims, however, the present problem drew its root cause from the neglect and total
disregard for the Muslims. The SPSGs are divided into two groups:
  
SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES SECESSIONIST GROUPS (SPSGs)

a. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Former Leader: Hashim

SALAMAT
Objective: Self-determination with the creation of a Mindanao Islamic
Republic. The objective of the MILF is to carve out portions of the
Philippine territory where it intends to establish an Islamic state. To
attain its objective, the MILF relies on Dawah or Islamic call and Jihad or
struggle in the way of Allah Dawah calls for the Islamization of the
individual.
 b. Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) Former Leader: Khadaffy JANJALANI
 Objective: Creation of an independent Islamic state in Mindanao. Mere
autonomy or independence will not stop them from pursuing their
mission, which is the eventual reign of Islam worldwide.
SYNDICATE CRIME GROUPS

 Another threat to national security is the existence of

syndicated crime groups locally and internationally which
continue to sow terror, panic and wreak havoc to the
Philippine economy. These syndicate crime groups are the
local and foreign crime groups who engage in the dealing
of prohibited drugs, those who are engaged in the
smuggling of economic goods and arms and other deadly
weapons, and those who engage in mercenary works to
liquidate prominent personalities in the public and private
sectors.
ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER GROUPS INVOLVED IN
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

 The numerous illegal organizations, private individuals and

groups or cartels who engage in economic sabotage also
pose a threat to national security by crippling the
Philippine economy by their illicit and illegal activities
like piracy and traffic of explosives.
External Threats
 External threats pose a big problem to the maintenance of national security.
The Philippines’ main concern on this arena is the maintenance of good ties
and relationship with the neighboring countries to avoid disputes that might
result to military conflict.
 Among the countries in Southeast Asia that pose a threat to the Philippine
national security are the countries of Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the
People’s Republic of China. These countries, together with the Philippines,
are contesting jurisdiction over the Kalayaan (Spratlys) group of islands,
located southwest of the Philippines, and Scarborough shoal, also known as
Panatag Shoal, Bajo de Masinloc, and Democracy Reef are two rocks in a shoal
located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon Island in the West
Philippine Sea. It is disputed territory claimed by the peoples Republic of
China and the Republic of China and the Philippines.
 External Threats – it is posed primarily by conflict from other countries that
may affect certain country politically, economically, socially and even militarily.
(Iran-Iraq conflict, arms race among super powers – Indo-China War).
The multilateral disputes over some claimed islands in the Western Phil Sea are sources of
intermittent tensions. Smuggling of firearms and contraband, human smuggling.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a threat to global security.
Nuclear materials and new technologies are more accessible nowadays; hence, there is
a relatively ease in production of both chemical and biological weapons that is more
attractive to terrorists.
The growth of information technology (IT) that is supposed to trigger the development of
technology has been threatened by this cybernetic crime. It is a global threat that is
experience with computer viruses, which have attacked isolated or networked
information system through the internet or software carriers and devices. Vital
government programs and systems, which are electronically system-based now
threatened and are feared to be hacked anytime.
 Terrorism

 Is the unlawful use of or threatened use of force or violence against

individual or property to coerce intimidates government or societies, often
to achieve political, religious or ideological objectives.
 The terrorists neither require nor necessarily seek political support.
Terrorist operations, organizations and movements require secrecy. Their
activities do not conform to the rules of law or warfare. Their victims are
frequently non-combatants, or symbolic persons and places, and usually
have no role in either causing or correcting the terrorist’s grievance.
Terrorist methods include hostage taking, hijacking, sabotage,
assassination, arson, hoaxes, bombings and armed attack or threat thereof.
Principles of Combating Terrorism

A well-structure anti-terrorism program is the foundation of any

effective combating terrorism effort. The basics of such program
include the collection and dissemination of timely threat information,
the conduct of information awareness program and the implementation
of sound defensive measure.
Defensive measures include preparation and exercise of response
forces and procedures. Because absolute protection against terrorist
activities is nor possible, protection plan and procedures are based on
assessment of the threat and an evaluation of friendly vulnerabilities.
The Army designed its combating terrorism program to reduce the
vulnerability of installations, unit and personnel during peacetime,
mobilization and war. The Army’s approach to combating terrorism has two
distinct but not separate aspects of anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism.

A. Anti-Terrorism – includes all measures that installation, units and

individuals take to reduce the probability of their falling victims to terrorist
act. AT includes these defensive measures that reduce the vulnerability of
individuals and property. These include personnel awareness and knowledge
of personal protection techniques. They also include crime prevention and
physical security program to harden the target, making the Army installations
and personnel less appealing as terrorist targets.

b. Counter Terrorism – includes the full range of offensive measures to

prevent, deter, and respond to terrorism. Other counter-terrorism measures
pre-emption, intervention, or retaliation with specialized forces operation.
 Siege of Marawi and the Marawi crisis, a months
long armed conflict in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, between
Philippine government security forces and militants
affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria/
Levant (ISIS/L), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf
Salafi Jihadist groups. The battle also became the
longest urban battle in the modern history of the
Philippines.
According to the Philippine government, the clashes began/during an
offensive in Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the ISIS/L-
affiliated/Abu Sayyaf group, A deadly firefight erupted when Hapilon’s
forces opened fire on the combined Police and Army teams and called for
reinforcements from the Maute group, an armed group that pledged
allegiance to the Islamic State and which is believed to be responsible for
the 2016 Davao City Bombing, according to the military spokeman.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines state that some of the terrorists were
foreigners who had been in the country for a long time, offering support to
the Maute group in Marawi. Their main objective was to raise an ISIL flag at
the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol and declare WILAYAT or provincial ISIS/L
territory in Lanao del Sur.